I LOVE a fun public art space! I noticed one of the swing while downtown but didn't know exactly…read morewhat it was. Today I stopped by to swing a little and discovered the "Blue Zone! Check out one of my photos to read about all the awesome groups that brought the project to the city! The swings are mainly on the corner of Georgia and Market but one is at Miller park too! You'll also see a few of the red or orange chairs too. What a cool space!

Some friends and I decided to walk the streets of Chattanooga on New Years Day in search of outdoor…read moreart installations still intact and murals. We discovered a couple installations still up from the Passageways collection last year and some cool murals. River City Company partners with artists to showcase different types of artwork throughout the year. I highly recommend strolling through Cooper's Alley behind Mad Priest and on the part of Main Street by Mean Mug and Clyde's to discover unique outdoor art in this town.

One of the tell-tale signs of URBAN RENEWAL in the United States is the sudden explosion of Street…read moreArt emerging within the local architectural landscape. I have witnessed it in many cities, but I was not fully aware that Chattanooga, TN had joined the game until a recent (and way too brief) visit to the city. I LOVE ART, for so many reasons. I love the power of expression without the need for words. I love the multifaceted ability art has to speak one thing to one person, and something completely different to another and yet both are inspired in powerful ways. In terms of street art, I particularly like the flavor it adds to a community and how it can transform a dilapidated area into a culturally rich environment for growth, acceptance, diversity and revitalization. My love of art does not typically involve abstract art (such as Picasso), but Street Art gives such a high volume of emotion and personal statement that not only can it touch your soul in unexpected ways, but it also gives you a strong glimpse into the mind of the artist. Street Art can often times act as a bridge between opposing sides, many times showing the connective fibers we all share with one another. It is this reason that it disturbs me when I see it being disrespected by property owners that may not value it as much as they should. Take for example the building occupants at the northwest corner of Cowart St. & West Main St. A beautifully designed mural awaits visitors there, but is littered with crates and other rubbish, some blocking or covering the art. While I get that art doesn't move everyone, I still think that it should be respected. There are some property owners that disregard it while others decorate it with planters or add outdoor patios to highlight and proudly feature it! Art is probably one of the most sobering reflections of real life there is... from the subject matter itself to the way each individual responds to it. Some will marvel at its beauty, some are stopped in their tracks as if it audibly called to them, while others pass works of art as if there is nothing special or meaningful about them. However, I get a strong feeling the residents of Chattanooga will embrace art so deeply that eventually the entire city will, in itself, become a gallery. What a glorious gallery it will be in a city that already has so much natural beauty. TO LOCAL CHATTANOOGANS I only had a few hours to visit but created this page not only to celebrate the happenings in your city, but in hopes you will add more photos as you find these hidden gems around town. I would love to be able to revisit this page and see all the wonderful murals I missed on this visit, so please keep an eye out for the beauty of murals and sculptures that blanket your lovely city like wildflowers randomly popping up in a country field. I will look forward to all your photos with eager anticipation! TO CHATTANOOGA STREET ARTISTS I love what you do! Whether you practice only as a local artist or travel to different cities around the globe for your commissioned work, I admire your visionary skills to transform thought into stunning visual effect for all to see. In the military, there are some units designed to go in and prepare areas for the soldiers that will follow. Laying the groundwork and clearing the way for change and progress. YOU ARE THOSE SOLDIERS!!! If you are an artist with an upcoming street mural, please feel free to contact me via Yelp messages and invite me to see your work as you are in the process of transferring it from paper to reality. I WOULD LOVE to witness a street mural from the first paint stroke onto an exterior wall to the last brilliant final touch! It would be my honor to hold a ladder or make a coffee run or anything to be of voluntary use to your cause!!! I will drive 2 hours from my home in Georgia just to be a part of it if you ask! 2018/37

Ruby Falls has been on my "must see" list for years and every time it pops up in a video on my…read moreinstagram account, I'm more determined to come for a visit. Finally, was able to do it last month. Purchased tickets in advance and showed up with enough time to shop in the gift shop and use the restroom. They have a very nice facility here with plenty of parking, a cafe, a large gift shop, and an observation tower. Spotless inside and well-run. Also, a penny press! Our tour guide, Chuck I believe, was wonderful. Extremely friends and funny and knowledgable about the cave but also about Chattanooga and the surrounding area. They are really doing a lot of tours. Since you walk 0.5 miles to the waterfall underground, it's a bit of a slog to keep getting to the side so groups of 30-40 can go by (tight space). We probably had to do this about 5-6x during our tour. The falls are amazing, but, walking the half mile through the cave and seeing all the other formations was wonderful too. There really are a lot of examples of formations and some unique ones like Angel's Wings, Western Sunset and Leo's Passage. Our group was large, but we had a good time and everyone was polite. The only thing I was disappointed in was that the waterfall wasn't illuminated for us to walk up to it - instead, we walked in in the dark and all crowded around it - so, when the lights came on, I wasn't able to get an approach or long shot of it in full length. They do have first tours of the day and adult-only tours so, if I come back again, I may look into that.

Ruby Falls was such a fantastic adventure! I was truly amazed by the beauty of the waterfall and…read moreall of the incredible rock formations we were able to see along the way. It was an unforgettable experience from start to finish. I was a little skeptical about whether my younger kids would be able to handle the walk, but it ended up being very manageable. We just stayed attentive and reminded them not to touch the formations, just as our guide instructed. I also thought the timed viewing at Ruby Falls was a really smart idea. I initially wasn't sure how I'd feel about the time limit, but the coordinated lighting gives everyone enough time to take photos, enjoy the waterfall, and then make room for the next group. It kept everything moving smoothly without taking away from the experience. My kids absolutely loved it, and so did I! We also enjoyed browsing the gift shop and picking up a few souvenirs to remember our visit. Overall, it was a wonderful experience, and we'd love to come back the next time we're in the Chattanooga area.

This large Sculpture park is gorgeous and a big surprise to me while visiting Chattanooga last…read moremonth. It's a free park about 10 minutes drive from downtown with 33 acres to roam on gravel/dirt paths to see a few dozen large-scale sculptures from some world-renowned artists. I really enjoyed myself on a lazy afternoon here and some of these sculptures are incredibly interesting and detailed. Easy to find and a large parking lot with a restroom available.

This place is SO COOL. We had some time to kill in the afternoon before we grabbed dinner with some…read morefriends, and this came up as a spot to visit. It's free and a great way to spend some time outside. You do not need hiking boots for this - you will be fine in a pair of tennis shoes or closed-toe shoes. It's an easy meander through a grass field. Full of tons of sculptures - we spent a little over an hour here looking at all of the sculptures. We saw other people come with items for a picnic, so I think it would also be a perfect spot for an afternoon picnic or to sit and read a book.

Amazing beauty, it'll take your breath. I know Soldier's on bother side's had to stop and just…read moreenjoy the view. I've been from top to bottom on the trail several times and I never get tired of it. It's full of beauty and history. My brother's awesome wedding was here. Go see and enjoy

Up the road from Rock City is Point Park, a section of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National…read moreMilitary Park. There's some parking nearby, or you can take the Incline Railway up from the base and walk here, the location is amazing! You can get a Passport Stamp here, too, if you're into that sort of thing (‍). Check out the view of the Moccasin Bend and the monument in the center of the park, or head down to the connection trail section for a hike to Sunset Rock or Craven House. The views are gorgeous from the overlooks, and definitely worth the small price of admission, which you can purchase in advance from the National Parks website.

Finding a Stolpersteine https://www.yelp.com/user_details_review_search?q=+Stolpersteine when…read morewalking the streets of a European city is a jarring experience and I had the same feeling when I started reading what happened to Ed Johnson here in Chattanooga. The United States has a dark history and it wasn't all that long ago. This memorial points out one of those incidents. Ed Johnson was murdered by a lunch mob following a conviction for a rape but the Supreme Court had issued a stay of execution. Because they felt that there might be a stay, the mob broke into the jail and killed Johnson. In response, President Theodore Roosevelt directed the Secret Service to help investigate the crime, which resulted in the Hamilton County Sheriff being found guilty for contempt of court (the only criminal trial ever held by the United States Supreme Court). Nearly a century later, Johnson's conviction was overturned on the grounds that he did not receive a fair trial due to the all-white jury and the refusal to move the trial to a new jurisdiction due to the publicity over the case. The monument celebrates Ed Johnson's cruel murder and sacrifice, pays tribute to Noah Parden, Styles Hutchins, and the African-American community that helped them, and remembers the Supreme Court case that forever altered American history and civil rights. Johnson is not the only person represented in the figures of the memorial. Take the time to read the plaques and understand what happened here. [Review 18808 overall - 344 in Tennessee - 2331 of 2022.]

This sculpture garden is part of The River Gallery. The River Gallery is a gallery space in a turn…read moreof the century home that showcases regional and national fine arts and crafts, while the Sculpture Garden is a captivating outdoor experience in a lovely garden setting that showcases sculptures from their permanent collection as well as sculptures available to purchase. Information regarding sculpture purchases is available through The River Gallery. Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed in the Sculpture Garden. Since we had our dog with us while visiting the area, we walked along the sidewalk on the street while looking down at the Sculpture Garden. From this vantage point, you're still able to admire a snippet of the lovely curved paths and public works of art. This outdoor garden landscape is supposedly on a two-acre space, and it overlooks the beautiful Tennessee River. The garden is also said to feature not only the works of art to admire but also boasts a meditation area, formal garden, and an informal garden with a recycling mountain stream. If you're in the area and dog free, it's certainly worth a visit.

The River Gallery Sculpture Garden sneaks up on you....or at least it snuck up on us. We were…read moredoing a day trip in Chattanooga, stopped to park for coffee and saw one funky statue, went to check it out and saw another, and another, and wait...what IS this place??? ***Googles*** OHHHH....Sculpture Garden! As others have said, this is really a hidden in plain sight spot that rests on a cliff overlooking a river. Very picturesque, and the sculptures range from small and neat (a group of fish pouring into water) to things that are larger than life and causes you to ponder. On a nice and warm day, you can easily find yourself missing a few hours here, especially if you bring snacks from the nearby restaurants. I was not expecting it. This was not on the itinerary, but i'm very happy we stumbled upon the Sculpture garden. It's kinda awesome, and that it's just on the outskirts of town sets the mood for how your time in Chattanooga will be. True, i'm not some artsy fartsy soul...but being allowed to dabble in this art environment was well received, and the next time I return it wont be by accident! Check this place out!!